A charity cycling challenge this summer will help in raising money to aid poverty stricken Kingston families.
A charity cycling challenge this summer will help in raising money to aid poverty stricken Kingston families.
Pedal Against Poverty, a not for profit, charity organisation, was formed to help break the cycle of poverty in communities suffering from debilitating poverty, especially children.
Now their aim is to get an ambitious, world record breaking 2,012 cyclists on the saddle on July 14, just days before Olympic cyclists will grace the roads of Kingston.
The event will start at in the town’s centre at Kingston Guildhall, where organisers are hoping to break the record for the most people cycling 100m for 12 non-stop hours in a relay format.
As well as cycling 100m, participants are being asked to raise £100 each in sponsorship money, which would generate a sum of £201,200 if 2,012 people join in on the day.
The event organiser Rizwan Khaliq said: “The Olympics are all about breaking world records, gold, silver and bronze, and everybody is talking about its legacy. We have 5,000 in poverty in Kingston – we can do something to aid them.”
The government statistics released in August 2008 showed that 4,930 children were living in poverty in the borough of Kingston-upon-Thames.
The local council has since developed a plan called the One Kingston Child Poverty Strategy for 2011-2014.
This outlines their priorities to tackle the issue and help families from an income and housing perspective and steps of action that they will take.
Mr Khaliq added: “This is genuinely a gold medal opportunity to stand-up and say no to poverty.” To take part in the event or for more information visit the official website at www.pedalagainstpoverty.co.uk.
Follow us on @SW_Londoner
